Thursday, October 28, 2010

Pumpkin Muffins with Toasted Pecans and Cream Cheese


It's the Great Pumpkin Muffin, Charlie Brown! Pumpkin Banana Muffins with Toasted Pecans and Cream Cheese Filling to be exact!


This wonderful recipe is adapted from one shared by The 'Best of' Inn Cuisine. A site which is now gone, sadly. I had some adorable orange and yellow muffin cups and also wanted to try adding a cream cheese filling to the muffins so I decided to make this Banana Pumpkin Bread recipe into Banana Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese.


Let me tell you, whether you make this as a bread or as muffins, just make it because this is a delicious recipe! The flavor of banana and pumpkin together with the toasted pecans and cream cheese were absolutely delicious.  I don't think you have to love pumpkin pie to enjoy these either because the pumpkin flavor is very subtle


The next time I make these I think I'll be a little more generous with the cream cheese filling.  It was so tasty with each bite of muffin.


So, if you need a treat for yourself or your little pumpkins this season, give this recipe a try. It's no trick!

Happy Halloween, everyone!


Banana Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese


Adapted from Rachel's Incredible Banana Pumpkin Bread

Printable Recipe

See the link to The Best of Inn Cuisine above for the original recipe and instructions for making banana pumpkin bread. The following is my adaptation.

2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup butter, brought to room temperature
2 large, ripe bananas
2/3 cup canned pumpkin puree
2/3 cup yogurt (I had French Vanilla organic yogurt on hand)
3-1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup toasted pecans

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/8 cup granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Toast pecans lightly about 7 minutes. Allow to cool and chop coarsely.

Cream the first 3 ingredients together in a large bowl. Add the eggs, one at a time and mix well. Place the pumpkin puree in a medium bowl. Puree the bananas in a food processor and mix into the pumpkin puree. Add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the yogurt. Slowly add the remaining ingredients, mixing until evenly blended. Mix the cream cheese and sugar together until blended.

Place paper muffin cups inside of a muffin pan and fill each cup 1/3 full with batter. Add a dollop (about a tablespoon) of cream cheese mixture. Top with batter to fill the cups about 2/3 full. Bake in the center of a 350 degree F oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from oven and cool on wire racks.

Yields about 18-24 muffins, depending on the size.

Note:  I froze half of these and refrigerated the rest, wrapped in plastic wrap.

53 comments:

  1. Banana and pumpkin do sound good together and cute papers! I have a traditional pumpkin roll in the oven for work tomorrow, this weekend's all about sugar-right?:@)

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  2. Gorgeouses, Susan!I love it!
    Happy Haloween ;-)

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  3. Your recipes are so different and the photography is amazing! I guess you must be excited to see your little one this Halloween~

    Sue...

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  4. Interesting combination Susan, and the extra creme cheese filling would be welcome in my muffins! Happy Halloween ;o)

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  5. I think the filling is a great idea:) Love the decorations too:)Who were those crows in the cartoons do you remember?

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  6. Oh that sounds so good! I love scones that I make with cream cheese frosting so why should muffins be any different?

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  7. These look amazing!! and lovely! love Charlie Brown too! xx gloria

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  8. This recipe looks wonderful. I made some Pumpkin muffins last week but I love the addition of the banana and the cream cheese puts it over the top.

    Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

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  9. They look delicious, Susan! I like the idea of the filling inside. A creamy treat with every bite!

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  10. Susan, those are the cutest candy corn liners. I love filled cupcakes -- cream cheese sounds yummy in them! I agree more might be better. Always lovely photos. I just noticed that you live in WI. I am a native of Madison, well actually Fitchburg. Beautiful in the fall. Joni

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  11. Looks and sounds wonderful! I need one of those to go with my coffee in the morning. :)

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  12. Wow, they look sensational! I just love those cute little orange and yellow muffin cups and what a brilliant idea to add cream cheese. Great recipe-thank you so much for sharing it.

    Best wishes and Happy Foodie Friday!
    Natasha.

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  13. I love your comments! Thank you.

    Monique, do you mean Heckle and Jeckle, the magpies? :) There are some great YouTube videos of some of the old cartoons. I doubt my little figures are them but I'm happy to remember those cartoons. Thank you!

    Joni, you and Jacqueline are originally from the Wisconsin? Madison is wonderful and oh, so 'green'. We only get there for an occasional UW football game - what a spectacle. Go Badgers!

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  14. I don't think I've seen a recipe that combines bananas and pumpkin. This looks and sounds delicious! I like that this is a wonderful seasonal recipe through Thanksgiving.

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  15. The pumpkin and banana combo is a new one on me as well. These look delicious.

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  16. Who would have thought of banana and pumpkin! Sounds wonderful. And filling to boot..YUM. I have some pumpkin leftover from a pie I made Randy..this would be a great way to use that up.

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  17. I guess pampkin is the protagonist of this period. They look very moist and this is because you used this cream cheese filling. I'll keep in mind.

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  18. It is only in the last few years that people in SA have become interested in Halloween, although it is still only a very small section of the population. Kids certainly don't do trick or treat.

    Using pumpkin in sweet dishes is also not popular in South Africa, you certainly can't by canned pumpkin puree anywhere. I do love the sound of these muffins, especially with the cream cheese. Very yummy!

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  19. It looks so yummy...

    Actually, anything with cream cheese is a fave of mine:)

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  20. What a yummy combination of flavors! I could kick myself, I just tossed out the rest of an open can of pumpkin I had opened for something else, thinking I was tidying up & wouldn't have another use for it anytime soon! Great pics~ LOVE those crows :-)

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  21. What fun pictures!!! I love the idea of pumpkin and banana together! YUM! Happy Halloween!!

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  22. Looks heavenly, Susan! That combination of flavor make me wish I had one right now with my coffee!
    Your pictures should be in a magazine!

    and, LOL, your muffins should be on my table :)

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  23. Golly, I haven't had a pumpkin muffin in ages... they are sooo good. Your recipe is wonderful... must get myself some pumpkin this weekend... love the colors of your muffin cups... perfect for the season.

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  24. Yum! These look and sound delicious! Love the birds!
    Kathy

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  25. Susan,

    I'm visiting from foodie friday and this is just delightful. I love your images with the crows and fun paper cup and the muffins look delish! Thanks for your best wishes, I'm smiling...back at ya!

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  26. These I'm making today - even have the muffin liners just like yours. Did you buy the crows this year? Adorable - care to share where you purchased them?

    Love your blog - text and beautiful photography. First Class!

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  27. Thanks again - you are all so kind!

    Rose, that is such a shame that you don't have easy access to pumpkin puree because I'm sure freshly made puree would even make these more tasty.

    Jabred, I bought the crows at a local garden center gift shop about 2 years ago. I examined them to see if there was any brand/artist name on them but couldn't find any writing on them at all.

    I had one muffin with my coffee this morning - they were just as tasty the 2nd day!

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  28. Perfect combination! Muffins made with yogurt (and cream cheese) are always so good. This one's a keeper.

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  29. this look so delicious:) thank you for sharing this.

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  30. wow how good do these look, will share with a friend who was asking for sweet pumpkin recipe lol he he and I was just reading Joy;s blog she mentioned she wanted to add more cream cheese to her muffins as well!

    Have a great weekend

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  31. Ok, these are just plain darling! I was excited you used yogurt. It always makes muffins super moist!

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  32. What a perfect looking muffin in those cute muffin papers. I am copying and pasting this one for Thanksgiving guests.

    Great photos!

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  33. These muffins look delicious!!! I'm going to try to get them on the list for this weekend. I love the tray with the crows! So cute! Check out my apple pie when you have a moment!

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  34. Great Thanksgiving idea - especially like the part where the filling is part of the baking process and not having to put it in after!!
    Great photos - as always!!

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  35. Oh Susan, Your blog never fails to deliver. Happy FF, and Happy Halloween.

    :)
    ButterYum

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  36. My roommates and I always have uber ripe bananas sitting around...probably subconsciously so that we can make fantastic recipes like this at a moment's notice! Sounds delicious.

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  37. Hello!
    I have just discovered your blog, I find it gorgious!
    I come back here very soon to search some inspirations...
    Thank you so much!!!
    Have a nice week end:)
    Barbaraxx

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  38. Welcome, Barbara! It is always nice to see new faces :)

    Thank you again to everyone for your very kind comments!

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  39. Susan, you never cease to amaze me!!!!! These muffins look perfectly mouthwatering for the season! You are a great food stylist.

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  40. Whoever decided to put pumpkin and cream cheese together is awesome...can't go wrong. I just started following your blog a big ago and have loved your recipes! Keep up the great work!

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  41. Pumpkin goes so well with cream cheese. I love the candy corn paper muffin liners you used. They look so cute and yummy!

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  42. Wow! That's a perfect combo of ingredients! They look really good and my mouth is watering now. Love the birds! Very cute!

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  43. Susan, how unusual with the cream cheese. I appreciate that it uses the whole 8 ounces since I rarely buy it except in unusual recipes. It's definitely pumpkin time. Happy Halloween.

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  44. I love anything pumpkin and the cream cheese filling makes them extra special. I've bookmarked this one, Susan.

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  45. Looks wonderful, these would be great with a cup of tea! Happy Halloween!

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  46. Not only do the muffins sound delicious but your presentation is fantastic. Those muffin cups are so cute and the birds getting ready to snack on them - fun!

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  47. I am enjoying your posts a great deal: pumpkin, bananas, pecans... how could one go wrong. Your pics are gorgeous and have set the mood. Great read. Thank you!
    :)
    Valerie

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  48. Your muffins look so delectable, Susan! I love the flavor of pumpkin and the cream cheese filling makes them extra special!

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  49. I make pumpkin bread that I top with cream cheese, and have made muffin versions of them but I have never put the cream cheese inside! Brilliant!

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  50. Oh wow....these do sound fantastic! I haven't make pumpkin bread in decades (seriously) but this recipe has done it for me. I can't wait to try it.

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  51. Susan sforni delle delizie meravigliose!è sempre un piacere passare nel tuo blog!!!baci!!

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